Mum of two Jessica Allen is passionate about promoting environmental sustainability that will have a positive impact on the planet. As a paramedic, she became increasingly concerned about the ingestion risk of batteries to her kids, while understanding the importance of keeping hazardous materials out of landfills and preventing potential harm to the environment. At Batt Bin they are committed to providing innovative solutions that make it easy for homes and businesses to dispose of their dead batteries responsibly. Their child-resistant battery containers provide a safe and convenient place to store used batteries until your next trip to a battery drop-off location. Here Jessica talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Batt Bin and her business journey so far.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
When I became a mum, I noticed our family was going through an abundance of batteries – now not only in remote controls (TVs, air conditioners, fans etc.), smoke alarms and key fobs but in kids toys too. I also began going through old toys from my own childhood and found some still had old batteries inside and were corroded. I became increasingly concerned about the risks of batteries to my kids, which I was familiar with as a paramedic, and the potentially harmful effects batteries were having on the world they’d grow up in. I came to realise other families shared these same concerns, and ultimately I became motivated to create a solution which is what inspired the formation of Batt Bin – a small collection of safe, convenient and sustainable battery storage containers for the home (and business).
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Batt Bin started quite organically. Initially it was about talking with other mums and learning as much as I possibly could about safe and sustainable battery practices both in Australia and overseas. Eventually the concept for Batt Bin started to take shape and I spent many more months iterating the three products I have today based on feedback along the way. I finally launched Batt Bin earlier this year. It’s still early days but has been so exciting delivering Batt Bins to people’s homes around Australia. I’m really excited about reaching more people and working together with our small but growing community to keep our kids and the planet safe.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
It’s hard to pin-point a specific breakthrough moment. It feels like a series of small wins to get to where I am today. My very first online order though was so important – I finally had validation (not just from my loving family and friends!) that I was creating something of value.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balancing work and family, especially with young kids, has been really tough at times. I’ve always had full support from my husband and family, but as a mum who’s also working, my other love is being a paramedic, so the time to launch a business is limited. I’ve wanted to quit so many times but am glad I pushed though. Looking back on the journey, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished so far.
